Fast action valve

ABSTRACT

A fast-action valve has an axially displaceable but nonrotatable valve stem engageable with a seat in the passage of a valve body. The stem has a pair of laterally extending arms guided in axial slots in an axial sleeve forming part of the valve body. A handle is formed with an axially opening cavity receiving the arms of the stem and provided with a pair of axially symmetrical ramps which coact with the arms to axially displace the stem against the force of a spring on rotation of the handle. The handle is formed of a pair of symmetrically identical members joined together along a plane lying along the stem axis and in line with the two highest points (least-axial-force regions) of the ramps. Furthermore the valve handle has an inwardly projecting rim received by a guide on the sleeve so that the handle merely rotates without being displaced axially on rotation.

United States Patent Kreis Sept. 25, 1973 1 1 FAST ACTION VALVE [22]Filed: Dec. 3, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 204,452

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 3, 1970 Germany P 20 59610.5

[52] US. Cl 251/255, 251/367, 251/368 [51] Int. Cl. Fl6k 31/524 [58]Field of Search 251/251, 263, 266,

Primary Examiner-Martin P. Schwadron Assistant Examiner-David R.Matthews Attameyl(arl F. Ross ABSTRACT A fast-action valve has anaxially displaceable but nonrotatable valve stem engageable with a seatin the passage of a valve body. The stem has a pair of laterallyextending arms guided in axial slots in an axial sleeve forming part ofthe valve body. A handle is formed with an axially openingcavityreceiving the arms of the stem and provided with a pair of axiallysymmetrical ramps which coact with the arms to axially displace the stemagainst the force of a spring on rotation of the handle. The handle isformed of a pair of symmetrically identical members joined togetheralong a plane lying along the stem axis and in line with the two highestpoints (least-axial-force regions) of the ramps. Furthermore the valvehandle has an inwardly projecting rim received by a guide on the sleeveso that the handle merely rotates without being displaced axially onrota- [56] References Cited UNITED sTATEs PATENTS 1,291,183 1/1919Schulder 251/268 1,534,227 3/1925 Livergood 24/263 SC 3,614,059 10/1971Rothauser 251/368 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPucATIoNs 802,840 lO/1958 GreatBritain 251/263 5 Claims, 4 Drawing; Figures FAST ACTION VALVE l. FIELDOF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a fast-open, fastclosevalve. More particularly this invention concerns a cutoff valve usablewith, for example, medium pressure liquids and gases.

2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Valves are known wherein, in order toprevent axial displacement of the handle on rotation to actuate thevalve, special guides have been provided. These guides necessitate addedtrouble and expense in construction of the valve.

3. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the presentinvention to provide an improved valve.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a valve wherein thevalve handle does not move in the direction of its rotation axis whenrotated.

Yet another object is the provision of such a valve which is inexpensiveto manufacture.

4. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These objects are attained according to thepresent invention in a valve wherein the stem has a pair of laterallyprojecting arms which are engageable with respective ramps formed in acavity of a two-piece valve handle. The two handle halves are joinedtogether on a plane which lies along the axis of the valve stem. Thesehalves are formed in the cavity with an inwardly directed rim thatengages a guide on the valve body or on a sleeve constituting part ofthe valve body to permit rotation of the handle relative tojthe body. Aspring is provided between the sleeve and the stern bearing at one endon the valve body and at the other end on the two arms to urge the sternand, through the arms, the handle axially away from the body. As thehandle is rotated however the ramps will cam the stem down against avalve seat.

In accordance with another feature of the invention the two halves ofthe handle are snapped together around the sleeve and over the valveoperator, here constituted by the stem and the arms thereon. In thismanner an extremely neat appearance is given to the valve, with all ofthe structure concealed beneath or within the handle.

The rim of the handle, according to further features of the invention,either engages under an outwardly directed rim on the sleeve, or fitsintoa groove on the sleeve. The two handle halves, are advantageouslymade of synthetic resin, and can be cemented together, joined by springclips or rings, or coupled by means of pins which can either projectfrom one half and fit into the other or can be fitted into both halves.It is also possible to solvent-weld the-two connecting faces to join thetwo halves together.

5. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The above and other objects, features, andadvantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from thefollowing description, reference being made to the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an axial vertical section through the valve according to thepresent invention;

6. SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION As seen in FIG. 1 the valve has a body 1 inwhich is formed a passage 2 extending from an input connection 3 to anoutput connection 3". In the middle of the passage 2 there is formed alaterally open annular valve seat 4 against which is engageable anelastomeric valve washer 26 carried on a valve stem 10.

A sleeve 5 which is coaxial with the seat 4 has a ledge 6 formed at itslower end which is received within a rim 7 on the housing 1. Thisportion 6 can be screwed or force fitted into the rim 7. The sleeve 5 isformed at its other end with another outwardly projecting rim 8 which isreceived under a ledge 24 in a cavity 9 of a handle or actuating member20 for the valve.

Coaxially received within the sleeve 5, and defining a cylindricallyannular space in which a compression spring 11 is received, is the valvestem 10 which has a pair of diametrically opposite radiallyextendingarms 14 received in longitudinal slots 9 formed in the sleeve 5. Thus,since the sleeve 5 is nonrotatablerelative to the valve body 1, thevalve stem 10 is also nonrotatable. The outer ends 15 of the arms 14 areformed with round bosses, balls or like cam followers that ride on apair of arcuate ramps 18 formed in the cavity 19 of the actuating handle20 of the valve. Since the cavity 19 is generally cylindrical and theledge or rim 24 that engages under the ledge or rim 18 is circular thishandle 20 can rotate about the sleeve 5.

The extreme upper end 25 of the sleeve 5 is received in a circularrecess 21 in the upper surface of the cavity 19 to prevent canting ofthe handle 20 relative to the sleeve 5. An O-ring 22 is compressedbetween the lower end of the spring 11 and the sleeve 5, and anotherseal 27 is provided between the lower end of the sleeve 5 and the body.1.

The handle 20 is formed of a pair of symmetrically identical halves 20'and 20" interconnected by four spring pins 29 received in holes 28. Thesplit or separation 32 between the handle halves 20' and 20" isadvantageously through that part of the handle 20 corresponding to thehighest par of the ramp 18 for reasons explained hereinafter.

FIG. 4 shows how the handle 20 can be formed with an inwardly directedledge 31 received in an outwardly open groove 30 of the sleeve 5 Thevalve described above is of the fast-open, fastclose type whereinrotation of the handle 20 through an angle of in either directionsuffices to bring it from the. fully opened to the fully closedposition. Thus, when the two bosses 18 rest in the position shown inFIG. 1 at the highest regions of the ramps 18, the valve is fullyopened. Rotation of the valvehandle 20 in either direction will cam thearms 14 and hence the valve stem 10 downwardly against the force of thespring 11 to bring the washer 26 carried on its lower end into sealingengagement with the seat 4 thereby fully closing the valve. The handle20 is rotatable only; it does not move along its axis of rotation atalil but merely rotates therearound.

The separation plane 32 of the handgrip 20 lies perpendicular to thearms 14 when they are in down or lowest position compressing to themaximum the spring 11 and parallel thereto in the relatively unstressedup position so that forces tending to spread the handle 20 apart atthissplit 32 are minimized.

I claim:

1. A valve comprising:

a valve body formed with a passage having a valve seat;

a cylindrical valve stem having an axis, one end axially displaceabletoward and away from seat for blocking fluid flow through a laterallyprojecting arm;

means engaging said stem for preventing rotation of same about its axiswhile permitting axial displacement thereof;

a valve-actuating handle formed with an axially open cavity receivingsaid other end and provided with a ramp, said handle comprising a pairof members connected together and together defining said cavity, saidhandle being formed at said cavity with an inwardly projecting annularledge, said valve body having a cylindrical sleeve coaxially surroundingsaid stem and formed with an outwardly directed guide engageable withsaid ledge for enabling rotation of said handle relative to said body,said guide including an outwardly projecting flange on said sleeve, saidledge engaging under said flange of said sleeve, said sleeve extendinginto said cavity; and a spring received between said sleeve and saidstem biasing said stem and said handle away from said seat.

2. The valve defined in claim 1 wherein said sleeve is formed with anoutwardly open circumferential groove on said body, said ledge beingreceived in said groove.

3; The valve defined in claim 1 wherein said handle is formed with acircular recess in said cavity receiving the end of said flange, saidcircular recess being defined by said ramp.

4. The valve defined in claim 1 wherein said stem has a pair of sucharms and said handle has a pair of such ramps each cooperating with oneof said arms.

5. The valve defined in claim 4, further comprising means for joiningsaid members together along a symmetry plane, said arms being in linewith said plane in a minimum-stress position corresponding to the fullyopen position of said valve.

1. A valve comprising: a valve body formed with a passage having a valveseat; a cylindrical valve stem having an axis, one end axiallydisplaceable toward and away from seat for blocking fluid flow through alaterally projecting arm; means engaging said stem for preventingrotation of same about its axis while permitting axial displacementthereof; a valve-actuating handle formed with an axially open cavityreceiving said other end and provided with a ramp, said handlecomprising a pair of members connected together and together definingsaid cavity, said handle being formed at said cavity with an inwardlyprojecting annular ledge, said valve body having a cylindrical sleevecoaxially surrounding said stem and formed with an outwardly directedguide engageable with said ledge for enabling rotation of said handlerelative to said body, said guide including an outwardly projectingflange on said sleeve, said ledge engaging under said flange of saidsleeve, said sleeve extending into said cavity; and a spring receivedbetween said sleeve and said stem biasing said stem and said handle awayfrom said seat.
 2. The valve defined in claim 1 wherein said sleeve isformed with an outwardly open circumferential groove on said body, saidledge being received in said groove.
 3. The valve defined in claim 1wherein said handle is formed with a circular recess in said cavityreceiving the end of said flange, said circular recess being defined bysaid ramp.
 4. The valve defined in claim 1 wherein said stem has a pairof such arms and said handle has a pair of such ramps each cooperatingwith one of said arms.
 5. The valve defined in claim 4, furthercomprising means for joining said members together along a symmetryplane, said arms being in line with said plane in a minimum-stressposition corresponding to the fully open position of said valve.